Kenya’s plan to build a second seaport has suffered another setback after the High Court halted construction pending determination of a petition filed by land owners.

The court Thursday issued orders temporarily restraining State agencies from carrying on with work on any part of the Lamu Port- Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) project until the land compensation case is determined.

The injunction followed a petition filed in a Malindi court on Wednesday by Omar Jelani, Kassim Ali, Shumi Bamku, Khauru Omar, Swaleh Mohammed and Mahamad Rajab seeking to suspend the mega project.

The six land owners have named Land secretary Charity Ngilu, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the Attorney- General, Lapsset Corridor Development Authority (LCDA) and the National Lands Commission as respondents.

This is the second major blow to Kenya’s ambition to build a seaport at Lamu and link its economy to Ethiopia and South Sudan through a railway line, pipeline and road network.

The Sh2 billion ($22 million) project that former President Mwai Kibaki launched with much fanfare during his last days in office first suffered a blow in June when the first budget of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government failed to allocate any money for its development.

The plaintiffs claim they own land where part of the project is to be initiated and are seeking to be provided with information that would shed light on the mode of resettling and compensating those displaced.

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The case will be heard on December 8, 2014.